Apparatus for sintering machines



March 2, 1954 w DUNCAN 2,670,947

APPARATUS FOR SINTERING MACHINES Original Filed June 19, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR WILLIAM M. DUNZAN fiflut Ajydu ATTORNEYS- March 1954 w. M.DUNCAN 2,670,947

APPARATUS FOR SINTERING MACHINES Original Filed June 19, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2. 2

\4i INVENTOR:

= AN WILLIAM Du a I M bud-u r ATTORNEYS.

March 1954 w. M. DUNCAN APPARATUS FOR SINTERING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet5 Original Filed June 19, 1947 INVENTOR WILLIAM M. DUNZAN BYfi @MJATTORNEYS. I

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 APPARATUS FOR SINTERING MACHINES William M.Duncan, Alton, Ill., assignor to Duncan Foundry and Machine Works, Inc.,Alton, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application June 19,1947, Serial No. 755,770. Divided and this application July 7, 1950,Serial No. 172,495

3 Claims.

1 i This invention relates generally to apparatus for sinteringmachines, and particularly to the removal and replacement of pallets insintering machines. This application is a division of my priorco-pending application, now Patent No. 2,519,179.

In my prior application, above identified, there is disclosed asintering machine wherein a pair of parallel strands of pallets aremoved about their respective paths in unison, and the duct work leadingto the wind boxes for the respective strands of pallets arranged betweenthe two strands so as to leave considerable free space between the upperand lower reaches of each strand. The space thus left is that which isordinarily occupied by the wind boxing arrangement and the duct work.With such machines, wherein the wind boxing and duct work occupies thespace between the strands, considerable difficulty is experienced whenit is desired to exchange pallets, as for example, when one becomesdeteriorated and it is desired to replace it. In the sintering machinesof the prior art, it was generally necessary to interrupt operation ofthe machine in order to replace a defective pallet.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide anapparatus for facilitating the exchange of pallets in a sinteringmachine.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a pallet exchangeapparatus which may be operated without interrupting the operation ofthe sintering machine.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when thefollowing description is read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a sintering machine equippedwith the pallet exchange devices of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1, showing thepallet transfer mechanism in greater detail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-4 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 1.

The present invention contemplates that, in a sintering machine of thecharacter mentioned, the duct work leading to the usual wind boxes bearranged at one side of the pallet strand, so as to leave a substantialamount of open space between the upper and lower reaches of the palletstrand. Within the space thus left vacant, the invention contemplatesthe provision of a pallet transfer mechanism, which includes a, trolleyrail suspended within the space aforesaid and leading outwardly beyondthe confines of the sintering machine. Upon the trolley rail a suitableambulatory hoist is mounted, so that it may elevate a pallet from thelower reach of the pallet strand, and remove it to a position remotefrom the sintering machine, and pick up pallets at a position remotefrom the sintering machine and transfer them to positions in themachine. In order to facilitate the transfer of pallets withoutinterrupting the continuous operation of the sintering machine, theinvention also contemplates the provision of a suitable retardingdevice, such as a brake, for operating upon the pallet strand in advanceof the position where the hoist operates upon an individual pallet.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, a succession of pallets I ismounted upon a stationary endless track having an upper reach 2, whichis substantially horizontal, and an inclined lower reach 3. The presentinvention contemplates that the pallets I be preferably not over sixfeet long and not over twenty-four inches wide. The pallets l areotherwise constructed in accordance with the usual practice having agrated bottom.

The pallets I are provided with trunnions E which extend from each endthereof for engagement with the endless track. Along the reaches 2 and3, the flanges of the track extend only beneath the trunnions 6.

In accordance with the usual practice, the trunnions 6 may be providedwith rollers.

As in any such sintering machine, a feed bin 7 is mounted above theendless track for the pallets near one end thereof and is provided witha swinging spout 8 (of the conventional type) and a suitable controlvalve 9.

Adjacent the feed bin 7 a suitable ignition furnace I0 is provided forigniting the mixture of ore and fuel with which the respective palletsare laden.

Arranged below the upper reach of the track 2' and extending from aposition directly beneath the ignition furnace 10 toward the dischargeend of the machine is a plurality of wind boxes ll, each arranged inaccordance with the usual practice to extend as close as practicable tothe bottoms of the several pallets l as the latter traverse theirendless path.

To draw the combustion gases from the wind boxes II with air, anarrangement of duct work consisting of a vertical leg l5 and an inclinedbranch l3, one for each wind box, is provided and arranged so that thevertical leg I5 passes upwardly adjacent the side (being the sideopposite that shown in Figure 1) of the lower reach of the strand ofpallets. The duct [5 leads to a suitable dust collector and blower,arranged as shown in my co-pending application above identified, orotherwise as desired. The present invention particularly contemplatesthat a substantial space between the upper and lower reaches of palletsbe devoid of ducts or other mechanism which would interfere with theprovision and operation of the transfer mechanism, now to be described.

In order to facilitate the removal and'replacement of pallets havingburned out grate bars,

without interrupting the operation of the sintering machine, the presentinvention contemplates the provision of a lift and transfer mechanismbetween the upper and lower reaches of the endless path for the pallets.In the space which, in accordance with the prior practice, has beenoccupied by the ducts leading from the wind boxes the present inventioncontemplates the provision of an over-head rail or trolley 32,wh'ich ismounted so as to extend substantially horizontally between the upper andlower reaches of the pallet series. For a substantial distance betweentheupper and lower reaches of the pallet series, the trolley 32 extendsin a direction parallel tothe length of the sintering machine,

but toward the' drive sprockets the trolley curves,

air cylinders 35 and 36, one on each side of the trolley 32. Likewise,the hoist 34 is providedwith' two air cylinde'rs31 and 38, one on eachside of'the trolley32. Cylinders35 and 35 work together but entirelyseparate from cylinders 31 and 38, which latter work together.

In the embodiment shown the hoist33 7 (consisting of two cylinders 35and 36) and the hoist 34 (consisting of two' cylinders (Hand '38) aremounted upon'the same carriage to'providea unitary transfer mechanism,which is' mounted upon wheels 39 entr'acked' upon trolley 32-. Theseveral cylinders are mounted,with'relationto the trolley rail, so thattheir lifting ferce is exerted in a directionsubstantially"perpendicular to the lower reach of track3,'whichis'inclined as shown clearly in Figure 2. I

With such an apparatusv the'remtvarand re.- placement ofapallet from theseries may be accomplished with facility" and s eed. 'Fr'om'o'utwardlybeyond the confines of the, sintering machine, the transfer mechanismmay bem'oved with hoist 34, laden with a new pallet' 'wjsuspendedupside-down ready to be dropped 'into position in the series of palletswhen'one'is 're moved. When the transfer mechanism is moved to theinterior of the sintering' maeliinefbearing a new pallet lll as justdescribed, it contemplated that the hoist 33 be unloaded. When thepallet which it is desiredto remove from the machine reaches a positionbeneath the hoist 33, said pallet is engaged by the hoist, lifted out ofposition in the series, and then, while the removed pallet is stillsuspended by hoist 33,, hoist 34 is lowered to deposit pallet 46 inposition in the series. 7

Between the operation of the two hoists 33 and 34, as just described,suiiicient time may elapse that one or more pallets have passed thelocus of operation so that the new pallet may not be in the exactposition relative to the other pallets as was the removed pallet, butsuchis immaterial. Moreover, by providing the trolley rail 32 so that itlies in a vertical plane parallel with the plane of track 3 for asubstantial distance,

incline as the hoist-is free to move along its trolley rail in aparallel direction for a substantial distance.

In order to retard the movement of the succession"of-pallets past thelocus at which the interchange just described is being made, theinvention further contemplates the provision of a brake 4.! having ashoe 42 adapted to frictionally engage the bottom surface of the palletsas they traverse a position immediately in advance of the locus at whichthe interchange isIoeing made. The brake 4| is not'a positive brake,which would require interruption of the machine, but is preferably animpositive. brake which, while retarding the movement of pallets alongthe lower reach of the machine, will, nonetheless, permit the machineto'continue in opera.- tion. In the embodiment shownin the drawings. thebrake 4| is provided with a spring 43' tending. to hold shoe; 42 inengagement with the pallets. The spring 43 operates through a lever 44secured as a crank upon a shaft45. The shaft 45'is also provided with a,gear 46 driven by apini'cn' t'l from-a crank 48 so as to facilitate themovement of lever 44 from the position shown in Figure 2 to'an oppositeposition, where the tension "or spring 43 will tend to rotatelev'er A lin theopposite sense. Upon the extremity of shaft 45', an eccentric 49is provided and upon said eccentric the brake shoe 42 is carried. Withsuch an organization of parts, it isapparent that, when the parts are inthe position shown in Figure'Z, the spring 43 tends to move the shoe42'so as to grip and retard the movement of the pallets, but, undernormal operating conditionsfthe' parts will assume a'position whereinlever' l4 extends in a nearly opposite direction to that shown thedrawings. Inv the latter "positionfthe tension of'spring 43 will tend tomaintain the. shoe 42 out of engagement with tlie pallets. While thebrake 4| is'primarily'intended for retarding the movement of thepallets-along the inclined lower reach'of' their path duringinterchange,

Sacha brake ina nonet aess be continuously employed, and in faet' apmraiit thereof'niay be provided along the lower reach of tl '1e"1)a'llet path, seas to retard the movement of thejpallets thereon,especially when the. path "may befincompletely filled with pallets.

With the transfer? mechanism ofthecharacter above described, arepiacemem pauet may be moved, into. position and. the pallet, "bei'ng'replaced," taken from" the "entering machinej and deposited beyond the.confinesthereofwithhut onemaneuv'er of the transfer mechanism along itstrack 32, :itbeing understood that, somewhere in aconvenient'locationbeyond-the confines of the sintering machine, therewill exist a-supply of replacement pallets and. a point ford'isposing,of the palletseto be reconditioned-bother which.

will be servedby trolley 32..

In order that the hoists; 3'3 and-34 may readily.

engage the pallets, the hoists are proyidedtwith.

a set of togglehooks 53 andv 54,, -the upper'ends of which are pivotedon a collar 55, which is slidably mounted on the rod extending from thepiston within each of cylinders 3536 and 3'l38, as the case may be. Thelower end of the piston rod is secured to a head 56. A pair of links 5'!extend between head 56 and toggle hooks 54. The toggle hooks 54 havetheir lower extremities proportioned to pass between the bars whichconstitute the grated bottom of the several pallets and engageprojections therein located, it being understood that during thetransfer operation the pallets are upside down.

While one complete embodiment has been disclosed in detail, variousmodifications and alterations will immediately suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art, and it is therefore to be distinctlyunderstood that such modifications and variations as do not depart fromthe spirit of the invention are, although not specifically describedherein, contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for sintering ores having a series of pallets mountedfor movement about an endless track having spaced upper and lowerreaches, and air ducts extending vertically at one side of the lowerreach of the endless track thence angularly to months located beneaththe upper reach of the track, the combination of a pallet transfermechanism comprising, a trolley rail havin a portion suspended betweenand substantially parallel with the reaches of said track and a portionextending outwardly beyond said track at the side opposite said airducts, an ambulatory hoist mounted on said trolley rail, and a brake forretarding the movement of pallets along the lower reach of said endlesstrack.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the hoist has two separate sets oflifting devices and the respective sets are independently actuatable andare arranged in spaced relationshi lengthwise of the trolley rail sothat, when one set of lifting devices is supporting a pallet forplacement on said track, the other set of lifting devices is in positionto engage a pallet on said track.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the hoist is mounted for elevatingmovement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lower reachof the track adjacent the portion of the rail which extends between thereaches.

WILLIAM M. DUNCAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 448,823 Nason Mar. 24, 1891 1,027,084 Stehli May 21, 19121,690,231 Klugh Nov. 6, 1928 1,734,360 Bittman Nov. 5, 1929 1,764,100Hoodless June 17, 1930 1,800,571 Shallock Apr. 14, 1931 1,828,232 RoweOct. 20, 1931 1,836,176 Kencke Dec. 15, 1931 2,304,381 Shallock et alDec. 8, 1942 2,389,289 Armington Nov. 20, 1945 2,534,186 Urban Dec. 12,1950

